Author: KEYT

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – ShelterBox USA is helping families in Nepal who have been left without safe housing following devastating flooding.

Emergency shelter supplies are providing displaced families protection from rain, wind and other elements while communities begin recovering.

The assistance gives families a safer place to stay after homes were damaged or destroyed.

ShelterBox USA focuses on emergency shelter and essential supplies for people displaced by disasters, helping families regain a sense of stability as rebuilding begins.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.  (KEYT) – After a summer of festivals, outside movie nights, free concerts, parades and social gatherings many Central Coast residents say this combination creates a healthy lifestyles and reduces stress.

Santa Barbara, Goleta, Solvang and many cities are making these events part of their community plans. They are either done by a site such as a park or historical location, or through a Parks and Recreation department.

Santa Barbara had a very four week Concerts in the Park schedule on Thursdays in July, with supporters asking for a longer schedule. Weekly, the turnout was about 2,000.

Ranchos La Patera & Stow House had a six-week Tuesday night series that just concluded with about 1,000 people each time.

The UCSB Arts & Lectures series Summer Cinema has offered Friday night films in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens. That concludes tonight with the movie Hairspray. Many people will invite friends and share food prior to the movie under the stars on the scenic lawn setting.

The estimated total crowd for the season is expected to total 10,000. Over 3000 attended on August 21 for the film Napoleon Dynamite.

Wellness experts say these activities bring family and friends together, reduce stress, boost the collective community mood, facilitating cultural exchange, and build social connections.

Tanya Paye is an event planner who has attended many of the events. “This are absolutely essential to keep the community together keep moral high especially at a time like now.”

UCSB Arts & Lectures Program manager Michael Figueroa said he has been impressed with the turnout and the cordial gatherings. “Everyone is so incredibly respectful of each others space and during the movie their very quiet . “

Those attending often meet people around them and that can develop connections that are often long lasting. 

“It’s really great to come here and chat with people that I don’t know and eventually become friends i have shared contact info with so many people at these events,” said Paye.

Often times those attending bring food and enjoy their dinner as part of the event. “One of the guys I was talking to today was literally saying the ambiance of that time when you get to see  so many of your neighbors , when you get to sit and talk to them and that’s what he enjoys. That’s long before the movie every starts.”

At a recent Zoovies event at the Santa Barbara Zoo State Senator Monique Limon spent free time with her family and friends and saw the benefit of the community events. “I think folks are always hearing and seeing all the problems and challenges that we have but it is also so important to remember that we have these moments that bring us together. ” 

Also getting outdoors for events encourages physical mobility and a healthy lifestyle, especially if you are at a concert and out in the dance area grooving to the tunes.

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Mina Wahab

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) —A landmark settlement between Meta and dozens of states could change how millions of teenagers use Facebook and Instagram.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $17 billion to settle claims that the company designed its social media platforms to keep children and teenagers engaged and failed to adequately protect young users.

The company denies wrongdoing.

Here in Santa Barbara, local parents and mental health professionals say they welcome new safeguards for young people.

Local psychologist: Social media can be a positive tool — in moderation

Pauline Yeghnazar Peck is a Santa Barbara mom, psychologist and Instagram influencer. She uses her platform to help people work through trauma, but says social media is intentionally designed to keep users coming back.

“It’s made to be very enticing to keep us coming back.”

Peck says social media isn’t inherently harmful and can be a valuable way for people to connect and find information.

But she believes young people, in particular, need healthy boundaries around their use.

“Social media is here and it can be a tool, it can be a really positive tool. So I think that the more we embrace it but also have some healthy skepticism, we’re actually going to be able to use it as a tool for improvement rather than a deterioration of connection and community.”

What Meta is agreeing to change

Under the proposed settlement, Meta would implement several new protections for users under 18.

Those include:

A default two-hour daily limit on Facebook and Instagram for teens Overnight restrictions on teen accounts Limits on notifications during school hours Stronger parental controls Stronger age-verification measures The ability for teens to turn off personalized feeds Hiding like and reaction counts for minors Restrictions on certain cosmetic filters for young users

Peck says some of those changes could help address the pressure young people experience online.

“These are important measures, and I think this is kind of a groundbreaking case to say we can hold corporations accountable no matter how big they are.”

She particularly supports restrictions on cosmetic filters, which can alter a person’s appearance.

“I like the restriction around the cosmetic filters and not having people’s faces being distorted in that way, because I think the more realistic images and representations people see, especially teens whose self-identity is developing and who are insecure just by nature of where they are in development, I think that’s going to be really healthy.”

Santa Barbara parents welcome more accountability

Andi Schloss, a local influencer and mother, says parents have struggled to keep up with how quickly children are gaining access to smartphones and social media.

“Parents can’t seem to get this one right. They’re giving their kids cell phones at a very early age. They’re allowing them permissions on social media in different platforms at which is just so dangerous.”

Schloss says she believes government intervention is necessary when it comes to protecting children online.

“In this case, I do think the government needed to step in and make some changes just for our kids’ futures.”

Where will California’s money go?

The settlement could also bring billions of dollars to California.

The state is expected to receive more than $2 billion over the next decade under the agreement.

The money would go to the state, rather than directly to families.

Schloss says she hopes some of that money will be used to help schools address student cellphone use.

“I’m hoping that this amount of money goes into the schools to get a better grasp on phones, in schools where the kids aren’t being monitored, and to put those in a cell phone box and just eliminate them for the entire day so the kids can at least go six hours a day without phones.”

The issue is particularly relevant in Santa Barbara, where Santa Barbara Unified has already been working to reduce student reliance on personal devices through its “Tech with Intent” initiative.

A broader debate over social media and kids

The settlement comes as parents, schools and mental health professionals across the country continue debating the impact of social media on young people.

Supporters of the agreement say requiring safeguards to be built into the platforms themselves could take some of the burden off parents.

But experts also caution that limiting screen time alone may not address every issue associated with social media.

For Peck, the goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate social media from young people’s lives — but to teach them how to use it responsibly.

The proposed settlement still requires court approval.

Meta says it has already taken steps to protect teens online and continues to deny the allegations at the center of the case.

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Dave Alley

SHELL BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – Shell Beach residents needing post office service will soon have to drive a few miles south to Pismo Beach

On Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, the Shell Beach Post Office will permanently close its doors and all operations there will move to the Pismo Beach Post Office.

A media representative with the United States Postal Service said in an email Thursday the small post office is closing because the landlord decided not to renew the lease.

Located along Shell Beach Road at the intersection with Esparto Avenue, the post office has served the small coastal community for several decades.

Now, local residents are being told all retail and postal service will transfer to the Pismo Beach Post Office located 5.5 miles away at 100 Crest Drive.

In addition, all customers that have post office boxes at the Shell Beach location will receive mail daily at the Pismo Beach site.

Retail services at the Pismo Beach Post Office are available from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday. The office is closed on Sunday.

The post office lobby for P.O. Box pick-up is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Direct Relief is sending emergency aid to communities devastated by flooding in Nepal.

The Santa Barbara-based humanitarian organization is helping deliver critical medical supplies and other assistance to affected areas.

Families are facing urgent health and basic needs as communities recover from widespread flooding.

The response is focused on getting essential resources to people affected by the disaster.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Barricades set on both sides of the road for weeks at a popular ocean overlook in Santa Barbara have been partially removed.

The K-rail barricades at the scenic Cliff Drive viewpoint went in above Hendry’s Beach to the surprise of many people living and traveling in that area, including members of the Santa Barbara City Council who spoke to Newschannel 3-12 after they were installed.

They were on both sides of the street.

Now the ocean side has been re-opened and the barricades remain on just one side, towards the mountains.

The city says it is looking at possible changes including closing the parking area at night.

Neighbors have been concerned about dangerous driving and trash. There are skid marks in circles in the area. Extra trash cans are on the roadside but trash is visible in the bushes.

Any permanent changes would have to go through the City Planning Commission, then have a coastal development permit and a public hearing.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

San Marcos 35, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 36-6: Victoria Aldana threw 3 touchdown passes, two of them to freshman Bella Bazylewicz in the dominating home victory.

Bazylewicz also added a 38-yard rushing touchdown.

Sophomore Piper Kittle scored two touchdowns, one on a 57-yard pick-six and the other on a 15-yard receiving score.

The Royals led 23-0 at the half and never looked back.

Dos Pueblos 56, Channel Islands 0: Ruby Streatfeild led the offense accounting for 7 touchdowns. Streatfeild rushed for 3 touchdowns and threw for another 4. Streatfeild connected for two touchdowns to Brooklyn Hedricks, and one each to Kinda Ahmad-Reda and Jane Gibson.

Defensively, Hedricks hauled in two interceptions, including a pick 6. Gracie Baker also had an interception. Makyla Watt, Nya Ribbens and Yaretzi Arredondo all recorded sacks.

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Mike Klan

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Santa Barbara 3, Dos Pueblos 0: Senior Blake Saunders tallied a match-high 13 kills as the Dons swept the Chargers 25-16, 25-23, 25-17 in a non-league match.

(Saunders is reigning Female Athlete of the Week for Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. Entenza Design).

(Faith Harrison led DP with 8 kills. Entenza Design).

Valencia 3, San Marcos 0: The Royals lost at home 20-25, 18-25, 20-25.

(Margaret Deakyne battles at the net for the Royals. Entenza Design).

Bishop Diego 3, Villanova Prep 0

Laguna Blanca 3, St. Bonaventure 1

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – UCSB outshot #12 Marshall 25-9 but the Gauchos ended up tied with the Thundering Herd where it matters most, on the scoreboard as the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in men’s college soccer.

Sacramento State transfer Donovan Sessoms scored in the 26th minute for his first goal as a Gaucho to level the match at 1. Peleg Brown booted a long pass from deep in his own end to Steinar Bjornsson who made a nifty pass off his heel to a rushing Sessoms and he blasted the ball with his left foot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1.

Marshall had scored in the 11th minute on a penalty kick by Thiago Apolinari.

Nine yellow cards were issued in this chippy game that left both teams at 1-0-1 on the young season.

UCSB hosts #2 University of San Diego on Monday at 7 p.m.

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Beth Farnsworth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Residents along the 2400 block of Las Positas Road are dealing with damage to their front yards, thanks to an out-of-control driver.  Erinn Lynch reviewing past accident footage

Erinn Lynch said Wednesday’s late morning incident was not a one-off.

“Well, we’ve seen a number of crashes out here,” said Lynch. “We sort of gather as neighbors. It’s sort of the eye roll thing that we do when we hear a big bang out front of our houses.”

COURTESY: HECTOR IBARRA

She shared video of a serious accident last year between an SUV and a motorcyclist that sent the biker skidding across the multiple lanes of the busy thoroughfare. Her neighbor’s security camera captured the collision.

“More recently, we had a distracted driver hit the electric pole in front of our house and knock it over.”

Lynch said Wednesday’s incident involved a speeding black Jeep that appeared to pass another vehicle before losing control and jumping the sidewalk.

“No one was walking on that sidewalk, that stretch of sidewalk at the time, but it was probably 50 yards of a vehicle up on the sidewalk and on the retaining walls of the three to four houses.”

Lynch said children were on the sidewalk just two hours earlier, walking to school. 

Remnants of crumbled retaining walls, a bent metal railing and skid marks dot the sidewalk. The incident was upsetting enough for Lynch to send off a letter to city leaders.

“The potential of kids being on that stretch of sidewalk, I had to revisit and reach back out to the city and let them know there needs to be some things to address vehicle load and traffic on a street that was really meant for just residences, 80 years ago.”

She said she also corresponded with the city 16 years ago when two pedestrians were hit and killed crossing Las Positas Road while trying to get to the Earl Warren Showgrounds during Fiesta.

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